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EZEKIEL PHALANA
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The Kay Motsepe Foundation youth football tournament continued to provide an exciting platform for young footballers to showcase their talent, determination and competitive spirit, with several teams recording important results across the Under-19 and Under-13 divisions.
In the Under-19 division, Navalsig of the Free State produced a strong performance to defeat Urban Academy of the Eastern Cape 2–0. The victory gave Navalsig an important result as the young players continue their campaign in the tournament.
The Under-13 Girls division also delivered an impressive display, with St Mark’s of Mpumalanga securing a convincing 3–0 victory over Lwazi of the Western Cape. The result highlighted the growing opportunities for young female footballers to compete at a high level and develop their skills through structured youth tournaments.
Meanwhile, the Under-13 Boys division saw a closely fought encounter between St. Ann’s of the Free State and Queenswood of Gauteng. Queenswood eventually emerged with a narrow 1–0 victory, demonstrating the fine margins that can decide matches at youth level.
Beyond the results, the tournament continues to give young players valuable opportunities to experience competitive football, learn from each match and develop both on and off the field. For many of these youngsters, such tournaments form an important part of their football journey and provide a platform from which future opportunities can emerge.
With teams representing different provinces, the competition also brings together young footballers from across South Africa, creating an environment where talent, discipline, teamwork and passion for the game can flourish.
The latest results once again underline the importance of investing in youth football and creating meaningful pathways for the next generation of South African players.
The tournament provided a valuable platform for young players to compete, showcase their abilities and gain experience while pursuing their football dreams.
Former Bafana Bafana international Surprise Moriri reflected on the significance of seeing young players develop at such an important stage of their football journeys. He spoke about how rewarding it is to watch youngsters mature through the sport and grow in confidence as they continue developing their skills.
Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Hlompho Kekana also highlighted the importance of investing in the next generation, expressing his excitement at seeing young players who could potentially go on to represent South Africa at national-team level.
The tournament demonstrated that youth football is about more than competition and trophies. It creates opportunities for young players to develop discipline, teamwork, confidence and a strong belief in their potential.
With R1 million awarded to the Under-13 champions hence Under-19 champions get away with R3 million, the Kay Motsepe Foundation’s tournament provided a memorable platform for young footballers while shining a spotlight on the possibilities that exist for the next generation of South African football talent.